Page 48 of Of Vows and War: Special Edition
Instead I was stuck here with this world’s crankiest male.
“Must you speak to me this early?” he asked, reading through a stack of papers as he walked towards me. Without another word, he lifted his foot and kicked the chair out from under me. I crumpled to the ground, groaning at the ache that hitting the cheap and tacky floor caused.
Fine. He wanted to be hostile? I’d show him the definition of the word.
“It’s past noon, you idiot,” I growled, grabbing his ankle and ripping his foot upwards. Glee consumed me as his back and shoulder blades slammed into the wood.
“Any time before I have started drinking is too early to hear your voice,” he groaned.
“Well if you want my help in saving your little soul bond, then I suggest you be nicer.”
“Asher does not need your help, and neither do I. Nicola has it covered. And how do you know we have a soul bond?”
“Don’t you?” I mocked.
“I am not sure that exists amongst my kind.”
“Whatever you say. Anyways, did you get the journal?” Back to what was important. His love life was the least of my concerns.
“Noe did, she should be up soon. She is excited to meet you.”
“Excellent, I love fans.”
“Do not call her that, or you might find someone who wants to kill you more than me. And, unlike me, Noe always finishes what she starts.” Bellamy stood, dusting off his dark blue trousers and straightening his black top. Gold rings graced each of his fingers but one, the same finger that the demons of Shamay used to symbolize marriage.
“Tell me, Bellamy, what will you do if Asher decides to be with Padon?” He stumbled at my words, nearly falling. One of his hands reached out and caught the small wardrobe against the wall, his grip so tight a part of the wood splintered.
Slowly, I returned to my spot in his desk chair, waiting for an answer I was not sure would come. Magic came with a price, and that was a certain lack of morality. It was worse for my kind. We were stronger, our magic more potent. There was a cruelty to how deeply it wove itself into our souls. Though his magic was not as strong, I could see that it still burrowed into his heart and festered like a sore. That was probably why he treated it like an infection he wished to cut out of himself.
“Asher is free to make her own choices,” he said after a moment. The words came from between clenched teeth. How tragic, to love like that. It was gross and terrifying and, quite honestly, pathetic.
“Liar.”
“Fine. She can, but I know her. She will choose me. Even if the world was nothing but dust, she would still be at my side. Asher would die for me, kill for me, and live for me. Can you say that about anyone?”
Every sentence seemed to cleave its way into my heart, each digging deeper than the last.
They hurt. Oh, did they hurt.
“Once, I did.” I thought of shining blonde hair and bright green eyes, my heart clenching. “Her name was Solana. I was obsessed with her. Every time she welcomed me into her bed, my infatuation grew. We fucked for years, neither of us ever discussing what it meant. She did kill for me, and I think she would have died for me too. But when the time came for her to choose between me and something new—an adventure—she didn’t pick me. So, apologies if I find your confidence to be a little preemptive.”
I thought of my creature again, how wonderfully curious he was. Just like Sol. Except he was not born to become a high demon and live forever. He did not possess the ability to world-walk or even enough magic to portal from his cage, regardless of whatever type of being he was. Which meant, unlike Sol, he would have no reason to wish for any more than me.
A burst of darkness encircled us, and then a female appeared. Her hair pooled down her back like golden brown silk. Her skin was a deep olive, making her hazel eyes light up. Only her body made me realize she was a threat. Yes, she was curvy and appealing, but she was also very clearly a honed weapon.
“Hello, not goddess Anastasia. It is absolutely horrifying to meet you. My name is Noe.” With that, she shoved her hand forward and beamed down at me. There was nothing to lose in taking her hand, so I did. Still, I was on edge as I watched her jump onto Bellamy’s bed.
Bellamy cleared his throat, eyeing me like he had a million questions and was not brave enough to ask any of them.
“Ask. You know you want to.”
“You mentioned before that your world was in danger. Is it because Solana left?”
“Oh, wonderful, I love ancient lore and tortured futures. Give me one second.” Noe disappeared from his bed, the darkness a cloud in the air above the thick red quilt. Moments later, she reappeared, the smoke-like shadows dissipating to reveal her lying down and holding what looked like a spoon and a bowl of chocolate. “Okay, now go on.”
Scoffing, I quickly wrapped my magic around the bowl and willed it into my hands in a puff of pink magic. Moaning after licking some off my finger, I answered.
“Solana and her step-father, the holder of Time and Void, loved to travel. They had decided to go world walking, which takes an immense amount of magic and focus. But they neverreturned. Not only did we lose the Time and Void seed, but we also lost the sole heir to the Sun and Moon seed.”
